Jonathan R. Baker;68501 wrote:
...I would be interested, like Greg, in knowing if other countries are in the habit of using their national and/or political leaders heraldic symbols to make political statements.
I don’t know which part of Canada this is from, but here’s a political jab, by Graeme MacKay, called "The New Coat of Arms" (2000/09/23) :
http://www.mackaycartoons.net/2000/2000-09-23.jpg
I also recall seeing the Amsterdam coat of arms replacing the three saltires argent, with saltires comprising crossed prophylactics (or was that crossed beer bottles?).
—Guy
Here’s an American Civil War era political cartoon. The liberty cap is not necessarily a "coat of arms," it was still a symbol of American (and French) liberty:
http://www.flocabulary.com/images/history/libertycartoon.gif
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"Northern Coat of Arms." This political cartoon is meant to indicate that freedom is too great a responsibility for African-Americans.
Hello Jonathan,
I accept you apology thank you.
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b) instruct a society of which you are not a member on how they should maintain their forum.
I had no idea I was doing that. It wasn’t the intent.
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I have now tried twice to get this thread on the topic of heraldry rather than politics, but you seem intent on discussing other matters. I hate to moderate discussions, but I will do so if it becomes necessary.
I had asked at least twice about this kind of satire with respect to other insignias and heraldic emblems in Europe.
I now notice that some oyher examples are coming in.
Guy,
Those are very good. It seems no one is imune for this sort of comment.
Thanks for posting them.
Guy Power;68508 wrote:
I don’t know which part of Canada this is from, but here’s a political jab, by Graeme MacKay, called "The New Coat of Arms" (2000/09/23) :
http://www.mackaycartoons.net/2000/2000-09-23.jpg
I also recall seeing the Amsterdam coat of arms replacing the three saltires argent, with saltires comprising crossed prophylactics (or was that crossed beer bottles?).
—Guy
It’s probably Hamilton, Ontario. The real Hamilton arms are somewhat similar: http://images.civicheraldry.com/120/hamilton_city_coa_n8072.gif
Nick
Greg: As long as they portray heraldry, I really enjoy the cartoons—regardless of the political perspective.
Nick: Thanks for showing me the Hamilton Civic Coat of Arms. I found another by Dan Murry, this time for Vancouver:
https://zone.artizans.com/supersize.htm?img=MUR525.pvw.jpg
"Vancouver Coat of Arms reflects recent string of shootings."
http://www.gianbruno.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/vancouver.png
OOOH! And for Ontario by Graeme MacKay:
https://zone.artizans.com/supersize.htm?img=GMAC292.pvw.jpg
Hmmmm .... I can’t see the images of two of the cartoons during "Preview"—however, you can see them here:
Regards,
—Guy
After reflecting a bit, I can see two possible uses of satirical manipulation of a heraldic symbol.
1) to attempt to impress the satirist’s views about the individual or group represented by the symbol, this being done most effectively when the individual or group are strongly identified with it in the public mind. If one sees the Seal of the President and equates this with the actual individual, then one can immediately and easily envision whatever the satirist has done artistically to the symbol as being a property of the individual represented. Because of the abstract nature of heraldry, much of the normal concious critical filtering may be bypassed and the satire more readily accepted by non-critical viewers. This can make satire of this form perhaps even more effective than other means of propoganda?
2) the other form of satire might be a kind of sympathetic "magic" in that a very popular cartoon with an heraldic symbol satirically manipulated might cause viewers to believe (and thereby help create) the "reality" of which the cartoon is expressing (whether or not it is true) by use of the same tactic of symbolic/abstract bypassing of peoples’ normal concious critical filters.
I don’t know, pehaps reading too deeply into the subject, but since to me heraldry does indeed have the potential to make for powerful propoganda (though it wasn’t satire, the best example I can think of is the use by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I in his attempts to glorify the Habsburg dynasty with abundant use of heraldic images), heraldic satire might be very powerful indeed. Not intending to derail the conversation into the realm of psychology, but just to pin down the niche for heraldic satire in my own understanding.
With respectful humility,
- Jeff
(also, I apologize for referring to the olive branch as an oak, I would make a horrible botanist, and for that matter, talking about "oak berries" as if they were real critters was not exactly a bright move, haha)
a nice one from Belgium
http://blogimages.seniorennet.be/raa/1255-341b33ca03048a5c40217b944ad2ca9c.jpeg
Guy Power;68508 wrote:
I also recall seeing the Amsterdam coat of arms replacing the three saltires argent, with saltires comprising crossed prophylactics (or was that crossed beer bottles?).
—Guy
Both, plus the third saltire was replaced by crossed (marijuana?) cigarettes, with the motto "Stoned Again, Drunk Again, Horney Again" There is a picture on page 242 of Stephen Slaters’s "The Complete Book of Heraldry"
Here are a few from the UK (and from a few years ago)
http://www.cartoons.ac.uk/img/standard/35/3235/VY3235.jpg
Prime Minister Harold MacMillan and President Charles de Gaulle as supporters for "arms" that have the Garter motto replaced with Commonwealth Market
http://www.cartoons.ac.uk/img/standard/81/0381/VY0381.jpg
1960s cartoon about the Trades Union Congress (from the left leaning "New Statesman")
http://www.cartoons.ac.uk/img/standard/67/0467/JJ0467.jpg
Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1975 riding the bucking unicorn of Scottish Devolution - note motto now "Dieu Et Ma Gauche"
http://www.cartoons.ac.uk/img/standard/53/6953/56953.jpg
From 2001 - presumably he was considered the only Briton rich enough to prop up the redundant Millennium Dome
Source: The British Cartoon Archive at the University of Kent
